Ellenor Simmons, director of the Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort (CARE), a long-term recovery initiative of the United Way for Greater New Orleans and a CWS partner, received an Award of Excellence at the NCC/CWS Ecumenical Centennial Gathering in November for her work following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Ellenor Simmons, director of the Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort (CARE), a long-term recovery initiative of the United Way for Greater New Orleans and a CWS partner, received an Award of Excellence at the NCC/CWS Ecumenical Centennial Gathering in November for her work following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Responding to the award, Simmons said, "The big question when I was a kid was 'Where were you on Nov. 22, 1963?,' then 'Where were you on 9/11?' Here, its 'Where were you on 8/29 when Katrina hit?'"

Simmons said, "We describe our lives as before-Katrina and after-Katrina." The award citation states: "On the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, survivors and those working on their behalf certainly say the work is far from finished... Ellenor's passion, uplifting spirit and smile provide hope to individuals and to the community she serves."

CWS works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world.

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